SOUTHPORT Football Club is mourning the death of one of its greatest players.

Arthur Peat, who played more matches for the Sandgrounders than any other player in the club’s history, died last week aged 71.

The former captain and player-manager was a crucial part of the club’s successes in the 1960s.

After signing from Everton in July 1961, Peat’s Southport FC career got off to a terrible start. In just his second game for the Haig Avenue outfit’s reserves he broke his leg in a match against New Brighton.

But once he recovered – returning to action before Christmas of that season – Peat set about installing himself in the club’s history books.

The defender’s first team debut came against Colchester United in February 1962, starting at right back.

That was the first of his 401-game career at Southport FC – a club record which still stands today.

When Billy Bingham took over as manager in the mid-1960s, Peat was converted to a sweeper, and was an integral part of the side that reached the fifth round of the FA Cup in 1965/66, and then won promotion a year later.

Peat made the number four shirt his own, and went through both the 1967/68 and 1969/70 campaigns without missing a game.

Club historian Mike Braham said: “There were other key players who had a part in these successes of course, but ask any of them what Peat’s contribution to the side was in terms of technique, effort, guts and determination and you’ll get the same answer from Alex Russell, Alan Spence, Colin Alty, Eric Redrobe and all the rest – just invaluable.”

Peat became club captain and, halfway through the troubled season of 1969/70, even player-manager as the club battled unsuccessfully to avoid dropping down to Division Four.

Released in the summer of 1972, Peat missed out on Southport’s one and only Football League championship in the 1972/73 season. But there is no doubting his place among the club’s greats.

After two seasons with Crewe Alexandra, Peat retired from football. Also a cricketer at Fleetwood Hesketh, he remained in Southport where he plied his trade as a plumber, before taking over a pub in Rochdale and then becoming a steward at Park Golf Club.

Granted life vice-presidency at Southport FC, he is one of seven players that grace the club’s Wall of Fame.

Mr Braham added: “In the pantheon of Southport footballers Arthur, despite not being the tallest of men, stands out as giant.

“Nobody has given such unwavering, wholehearted service at such a level of ability over so many years.”